New HyperX Clutch Gladiate controller feels stuck in the past

In case you want a brand new PC controller, the HyperX Clutch Gladiate is a good low cost possibility that additionally occurs to be licensed to be used on Xbox consoles. Nonetheless, between the crystal clear casing, RGB lighting, and lack of Corridor Impact thumbsticks, we will’t assist however really feel it’s arrived just a few years too late and can wrestle to make an affect within the present market.

Among the best PC controllers are ones that get the easy options proper. We don’t doubt that the HyperX Clutch Gladiate will perform and have longevity, however its $44.99 worth level leaves it open to comparisons to extra feature-complete opponents who solely cost a fraction extra, or in some circumstances, much less.

A substantial sticking level for the HyperX Clutch Gladiate is the dearth of Corridor Impact joysticks. This new expertise is quick turning into the brand new commonplace, because it makes use of magnets and electrical conductors to measure every joystick’s place, fairly than {the electrical} resistance utilized by all different controllers. The large profit to Corridor Impact joysticks is that all of it however eliminates the danger of stick drift, a standard concern for controllers on all platforms.

Past this, the overall suite of options is, questionable. Rumble motors, set off locks, a 3.5mm jack, and a share button are all staples of most Xbox licensed controllers, and it’s wired, so what precisely makes the HyperX Clutch Gladius value shopping for in comparison with its Corridor Impact brethren?

Effectively, if you happen to actually get pleasure from clear shells and seeing the insides of your controller and the way they work, the Clutch Gladius is best for you. RGB lighting in a transparent controller tends to lose its contact fairly early on, feeling a bit redundant and typically weak when in comparison with extra delicate lighting on a controller with just some focal factors.

Regardless, the HyperX Clutch Gladius looks like a controller that’s late to the market. It in all probability has a goal buyer and can promote properly as a vacation present, however we might maybe recommend wanting elsewhere if you happen to’re after one thing to sort out the best PC games in 2023.

In case you’re available in the market for a brand new controller and are awaiting the vacation gross sales, take a look at our Black Friday PC gaming hub to remain updated with the newest offers.